Bomb or flare rack



' nvewtoz C L PAULUS BOMB OR FLARE RACK Filed May ll, 1923 N WN 45 Wj l D I U. M

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L AN @NN Patented sept. 27,1927.

UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT CHARLES L. PAULUS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

BOMB OB FLARE RACK.

l Application led Hay 11 1923. Serial No. 638,248.

This invention relates to racks especially designed for use on airplanes for the purpose of accurately dropping bombs or flares, the same being generally used in con]unc tion with a bomb sight. l. 0

The object of theY present invention .1s to simplify, improve and render more reliable what isknown as the Michelin Mark I Hare rack type B and particularly to eliminate the dan er attending the mounting and carrying o high explosive bombs.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described, shown and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section-of the improved rack. Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same looking toward the front end thereof.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

The im roved rack comprises what I term a T-rail esignated generally at 5, the same comprising a hollow-U-'shaped body portion 26 6 andoutturned upper edge'portions forming oppositely extending flanges 7, by means ofwhich the T rail is secured b suitable fastening means, usually to the ottom of the lower supporting surface or aerofoil` of 80v an airplane. The 'U-shaped body portion is ada ted to contain most of the working mec anism of the bomb holding and releasing means.

The bomb or flare represented by the outline 8 is supported underneath the T-rail 5, as indicated in Figure 1, by means of two or more hooks 9 and 10 which hooks are interconnected vby a coupling bar or rod 11 to cause both hooks to move in unison. The hooks 10 have the forked ends 12, as shown in the bottom plan view, said ends being 'adapted to embrace shanks 13 connecting acorn-shaped heads 14 to bands 15 which encircle the bomb or flare, as shown. The e5 forked ends 12 of the hooks engage under the acorn heads 14 and press the latter tightly against forked extensions 16 extending horizontally from bomb steadying or holding brackets 17. The brackets 17 are secured to the body of the T-rail 5 by fastening means, such as bolts or rivets 18 and the downwardly extending forked arms thereof bear against and practically straddle the upper portion of the bomb or flare 8, as clearly indicated in the drawings. The bomb is thus held in a steady manner andV a firm vextremity thereof underlying a locking bar 21 movable longitudinally within the hollow portion of the body 6 of the T-rail. 'Connected pivotally to the locking bar 21 is a link 21a in turn pivotally connected to the upstandingarm of a lever 22 mounted on a pivot 22 on the frame or housing of a sole-V noid ma net 23. The armature 23a of the solenoid is'` connected by link 24 to thelever 22.. A short stop arm 25 on the lever 22 strikes against a stop 26 to maintain the locking bar 21 in proper engagement with the hook'9. A push button switch 27 controls the solenoid magnet circuit containing a battery 27a or other source of electrical energy. 'Qllie T-rail isl formed with lightening holes In operation a push on the circuit closn switch button effects a Isliding movement 0% -the locking bar 21 against the tension of a spring 28, withdrawing the bar 21v from en-` gagement with the locking hook 9. This allows the arm 20 of the lockin hook to spring upwardly` under the weig t of the bomb or flare and causes the hook 9 t`o swing laterally from under the head` 14. Simultaneously the other hook 10 is swung out of engagement with the respective head 14 and the bomb or flare is dro ped.

At the forward end o the bomb or flare there is arranged a rotary arming vane 29 which has primaril attached thereto a cylindrical casing or s ell 30 of small diameter including a fuse and booster charge, said shell or casing being ada ted to be screwed into the forward end oi) the shell of the bomb flare in the position indicated in the drawings. The shell indicated at 30 containing the fuseand booster charge also contains a plunger ory firing pin 31 to cause detonation of the bomb upon striking the ground or other object. When the bomb or Hare' is in its supported position beneath the T-rail` 5, the arming vane is engaged by a pendant retaining arm 32 supported on a pivot 33 carried bythe T-rail 5. The arm 32 is held in locking position by means of a coil spring 34 which surrounds a stem 35 pivotally connected at one end as at 36 to the arm 32 and extending downwardly through an opening in the base of the hollow portion of the bottom 6 of the T-rail where it is provided with a stud in 37 to limit the upward movement of t e stem 35 and properly position the retainin arm 32. The retaining arm 32 is provide with anger hold or gri extension 38 to enable said arm to be liftedrby the operator when assembling the arming vane, fuse and booster charge With the bomb or flare.

From the foregoing description, taken 1n .connection with the accompan mi draw- 'ings, it will now be seen that t e omb or flare, while unarmed, may be iplaced upon the supporting rack and therea er, by lifting the retaining arm-32 or arming vane,

together with the fuse, vbooster charge and firing pin assembly may be attached to the bomb. The retaining arm 32 is itself allowed to move by actinn of the spring 34 into engagement with t 1e arm vane which is thus locked against rotation. -When the bomb or iare is dropped or released `from the rack the arming vane passes out of engagement'with the retaining arm 32 and by action of the air current the arming vane 29 is thus spun ofi', the bomb thereby unlocking the firing pin or plunger 31 which is then free to move lengthwise and effect detonation of the bomb or iare.

1. In combination, a rack for an aerial bomb having a rotary bombing vane adapted to be spun therefrom to render the bomb eective, safety means on said rack directly engaging said vane to hold the vane from spinning while supported by the rack, said safety means being yieldingly held in engagement with the 'vane and being manually movable to permit assembly of the arming vane and bomb.

2. In a bomb dropping rack, a T-rail having a U-shaped u right body portion and horizontally exten ing flanges adapted to be directly connected to the alrplane, a bombsupporting hook mounted for pivotal movement in said bod portionand means for locking said hoo against pivotal movement.

3. In a bomb dropping rack, a. T-rail having a U-shaped upright body portion, bomb supporting hooks mounted for pivotal movement in said body portion, means within said U-shaped body for inter-connecting the same, means for locking one of said hooks and means for releasing said locking means.

4. In a bomb-dropping rack, a T-rail having a U-shaped upright body portion, bolnb` supporting and releasingl means carried by said rail within said U- aped body portion and forked brackets against which the bomb may abut in'carryi-ng position, said forked brackets having portions'adapted to prevent the bomb from slipping from its supporting means.

5. In combination with an aerial bomb having a headed projection by which it is supported, a supportin rail, a supporting hoo sup orted on sai rail and provided with a b1 urcated lip', the legs of said bifurcation adapted to pass said projection and support the head o means on the rail to engage fthe head of said projection to limit the movement of the the same from beneath,

bomb in one direction and means for releasinlg said hook. 6. `n a bomb droppin rack, a T-rail hav-4 ing a U-shaped upright ody portion, bomb supporting hooks mounted for pivotal movement in said bod portion, means within said U-shaped bo y portion for inter-connecting the same, means within said body portion for unlocking one of said hooks, and

.means for releasing said locking means.

7 In a bomb dro ping rack, a T-rail having a U-shaped upright body portion, bomb supporting hooks mounted for pivotal movel ment in said body portion, means for interconnecting the same, means for locking one of said hooks, and brace means connected to said rack and adapted to abut said supporting hooks when t ey are in operative position to prevent the bomb from slipping therefrom.

8. In a bomb droppin rack, a T-rail having a U-shaped uprig t bod bomb supporting hooks mounted or pivotal movement in said body portion, means within said U-shaped body portion for interconnecting the same, means for locking one of said hooks, and bracemeans connected to said rack and'adapted to abut said supporting hooks when they are in operative position to prevent the bomb from slipping therefrom.

9. In a bomb dropping rack, a T-rail having a U-shaped upri ht body portion, bomb supporting pronged otal movement in said body portion, means within said U-shaped body portionfor inter-connecting. the same, means for locking one of said hooks, and brace means connected to said rack and adapted to abut said supporting hookswhen the are in operative -position to prevent the omb from slipping therefrom.

10. In a bomb dropping rack, a T-rail having a U-sh'aped u right body portion, bomb supporting hoo s mounted for pivotal movementv in said body portion, means for inter-connecting the same, means slidable to engage one of said hooks to lock the same, and means for releasing said locking means. l

In testimony whereof I'ax my signature.

CHARLES L. PAULUS.

portion,

ooks mounted for piv- 

